US3524981A - Lighting fixture diffuser assembly - Google Patents

Description

Aug.,18, l970 s. AUERBACH 3,524,981

I LIGHTING FIXTURE DIFFUSER ASSEMBLY Filed June 5,. 1968 INVENTOR SEYMOUR AUERBACH BY MU 9% ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,524,981 LIGHTING FIXTURE DIFFUSER ASSEMBLY Seymour Auerhach, 115 Hesketh St., Chevy Chase, Md. 20015 Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 568,236,

July 27, 1966, now Patent No. 3,388,248. This application June 3, 1968, Ser. No. 734,097

Int. Cl. F21v 17/06 US. Cl. 240-128 17 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The lighting fixture diffuser assembly includes an annular support member adapted for adhesive securement to a wall or ceiling surface about and independently of a light fixture. Radially inwardly extending fingers are carried by the support member to center the latter about the light fixture. A plurality of lugs depend from the support member and have inclined cam surfaces. A diffuser has an inwardly directed flange adjacent its open end with a plurality of openings formed therethrough. To releasably secure the diffuser to the support member, the diffuser is located in juxtaposition with the support member such that the lugs are received through the openings. The diffuser is then rotated with the marginal portions of the flange adjacent the openings bearing on the inclined cam surfaces to draw the diffuser toward the support member and final securement in surrounding or enveloping relation about the support member and the light fixture.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Ser. No. 568,236 filed July 27, 1966, now Pat. No. 3,388,248.

The present invention relates to lighting fixtures and particularly relates to an improved lighting fixture diffuser assembly of the type wherein a diffuser is releasably secured to a wall or ceiling surface about and independently of alight fixture.

Conventional light fixtures are usually permanently mounted to a wall or ceiling surface and the diffusers therefor are normally removably secured directly to the fixture. Individuals wishing to remodel or renovate their homes, apartments or the like, and desiring to replace an outmoded, outdated and usually unfashionable diffuser provided years previously with a new and more aesthetically pleasing diffuser must currently either replace the entire light fixture or attempt to secure a new diffuser to the old fixture (my above-identified patent excepted). Practically speaking, new diffusers are not manufactured or readily adaptable for connection to older light fixtures, such as the commonplace white ceramic fixture and are generally incompatible therewith. As a result, the entire fixture must usually be replaced. This entails rewiring as well as refinishing the wall surface surrounding the fix-ture which is often disrupted when rewiring and replacing the old fixture with the new fixture, all of which tends to increase the difficulty and cost of replacing an older diffuser or providing a diffuser where there previously was none. Moreover, it is virtually impossible to adapt a new diffuser to an old fixture in a manner which would completely hide the old fixture from view even apart from the above-noted problems of securing the new diffuser to the old fixture. Thus aesthetic as well as practical considerations play an important part in the provision of a new diffuser.

Apart from the foregoing, the quick and ready disassembly of the diffuser from about the light fixture for the purpose of replacing burned out bulbs, cleaning, etc., and its rapid reattachment about the lighting fixture are also critical considerations as well as desirable features. Conventional diffusers are often secured directly to the light fixtures by three or more screws which thread through a portion of the fixture and engage a rim on the diffuser. This manner of attachment is somewhat awkward and cumbersome and there is always the possibility of dropping the diffuser while simultaneously manipulating the diffuser and threading the screws into supporting engagement therewith. Additionally, these conventional securing methods usually do not permit the diffuser to completely encompass and surround the light fixture and hide it from view whereby the aesthetic characteristics of the lighting fixture assembly are somewhat limited and diminished in this respect.

In my above-identified patent, there is disclosed a support ring which is attachable to the wall or ceiling surface about the light fixture and which mounts a pair of button type fasteners. At least three radially inwardly directed fingers having suitable indicia thereon are pro vided for the purpose of centering the support ring about light fixtures of various diameters. A diffuser is provided having an inwardly directed flange carrying a plurality of key slots whereby the diffuser is located such that the button fasteners enter the key slots. Rotation of the diffuser thus releasably secures the latter to the support ring. The diffuser is formed to hide the support ring fiom view. While this has proven an eminently satisfactory type of lighting fixture assembly and has solved many of the foregoing problems, the present invention features an improved method of attachment between the support mem ber and diffuser.

The present invention provides a support member which is attachable to a wall or ceiling surface about and independently of a light fixture. The support member is preferably formed of a plastic material and has a plurality of lugs projecting therefrom. The lugs are substantially L-shaped and the base portion of each lug has a cam surface spaced from and inclined relative to the support member. A diffuser is provided and has an inwardly directed flange which is spaced slightly inwardly of the open end of the diffuser. A plurality of openings are formed through the flange at like circumferential positions thereabout as the lugs are spaced about the support member. When attaching the diffuser to the support member, the diffuser is disposed opposite the support member so that the lugs are received through the openings in the diffuser flange. Initial rotation of the diffuser relative to the support member causes the marginal portions of the flange about the openings to bear on the inclined cam surfaces of the lugs whereby continued rotation of the diffuser draws the diffuser toward the support member to a frictional locking position therewith. By spacing the flange inwardly of the open diffuser end, a lip is formed about the diffuser end. When the diffuser is finally secured to the support member, the lip surrounds the support member and lies in close juxtaposition to the Wall or ceiling surface whereby the diffuser fully encompasses or envelops the support member and the light fixture. In another form hereof, the support member is formed of sheet metal and the lugs are punched therefrom and bent to form the inclined cam surfaces.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved lighting fixture diffuser assembly.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved lighting fixture diffuser assembly having a support member attachable to the wall or ceiling surface about and independently of the light fixture and wherein the diffuser therefor is releasably attachable to the support member in a simple and eflicient manner.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved lighting fixture diffuser assembly having the foregoing characteristics wherein the diffuser is cammed into a supported position by lugs formed on the support member.

It is a related object of the present invention to provide an improved lighting fixture diffuser assembly having the foregoing characteristics and including a diffuser support member formed to facilitate centering of the support memher and hence the diffuser about the light fixture.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved lighting fixture diffuser assembly wherein the diffuser is readily mechanically connected with the support member with the latter and the diffuser being formed and cooperating in a manner as to virtually block the support member and light fixture from view exteriorly of the assembly.

It is a related object of the present invention to provide an improved lighting fixture diffuser assembly which is simple and economical to manufacture.

These and further objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon reference to the following specification, claims and appended drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a lighting diffuser fixture assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary, cross-sectional view thereof illustrating the support member and diffuser prior to their attachment;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view thereof illustrating the diffuser and the support member therefor in attached relation;

FIG. 4 is a reduced fragmentary, cross-sectional view thereof taken about on line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a reduced longitudinal sectional view thereof taken about on line 55 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view thereof taken about on line 66 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of another form of diffuser support member and its associated connecting means; and

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view therof taken about on line 88 in FIG. 7.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown a light fixture generally indicated at 10 comprising a light bulb 12 and a socket or base 14 for receiving bulb 12, the base 14 having suitable electrical connections, not shown, and being secured in the usual fashion to a wall or ceiling surface S. The base 14 may comprise, for example, a white ceramic light socket of conventional construction and it will be understood that the light fixture 10 may comprise any type of existing light fixture or may comprise an entirely new fixture as the diffuser assembly hereof may be employed with existing or new light fixtures. Surrounding the lighting fixture 10, there is illustrated a diffuser support member generally indicated at 16 and a generally cylindrical diffuser indicated at 18 which is adapted to be secured to support member 16.

Diffuser support member 16 preferably comprises an annulus 19 which may be formed of a suitable plastic material although it will be understood that support member 16 may be other than circular in shape and may be formed of other materials. Support member 19 carries a plurality of radially inwardly directed fingers 20. Fingers 20 are similar to the centralizing fingers disclosed in my above-identified copending application and are provided to center the support and hence the diffuser about the light fixture. Prior to installation, fingers 20 extend inwardly almost to the center of support annulus 19. Suitable indicia is provided on fingers 20 in the form of scribe lines which indicate various diameters on annulus 19 such that when it is secured to the wall or ceiling surface S about fixture 10, the fingers 20 may be cut to a diameter at least equal to and preferably slightly greater than the diameter of the base 14 of fixture 10 whereby support annulus 19 may be centered in coaxial relation about fixture 10.

Depending from the lower side of support member 16, there are provided a plurality of L-shaped lugs 22 having vertical and arouate inner Wall portions 24 and outwardly projecting lower legs or Wedge-like portions 26. Lugs 22 are preferably formed integrally with support annulus 19. As best illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3, and 6, the upper surfaces of leg or wedge portions 26 are upwardly inclined and form cam surfaces 28 for reasons as will presently become clear. The opposite face of annulus 19 may be precoated with an adhesive 30 (FIGS. 2 and 3) and provided with a release paper, not shown, whereby support member 16 can be readily secured about fixture 10, after peeling off the release paper, by pressing annulus 19 against surface S. Alternatively, any suitable type of adhesive could be applied to annulus 19 at the time of installation or other suitable securing means could be provided.

Diffuser 18 preferably comprises a generally cylindrical member 32 having a closed or open lower end as desired and an open upper end. Diffuser 18 is formed of a translucent material. A preferably integrally and radially inwardly extending flange 34 is formed about the cylindrical portion of diffuser 18 and, as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, is spaced slightly inwardly of the edge or lip 36 of diffuser 18. A plurality of openings or slots 38 are formed through flange 34 at circumferential positions thereabout corresponding to the circumferential positions of lugs 22 about support member 16.

To secure the present lighting fixture diffuser assembly about an existing or new lighting fixture, the fingers 20 are cut to a predetermined diameter at least equal to and preferably slightly greater than the diameter of the light fixture, for example, the diameter of ceramic base 14. The adhesive covering release paper, not shown, is then removed or adhesive is applied to the upper face of the annulus 19 as the case may be and the support member is pressed against the surface S with the fingers 20 locating it in coaxial relation about fixture 14. Diffuser 18 is then located below support member 16 with the lugs 22 and openings 38 lying in registry, one with the other, such that movement of diffuser 18 toward the surface S locates the lower legs 26 of lugs 22 within the diffuser 18 below flange 34. By rotating diffuser 18 relative to support member 16 in a clockwise direction, as seen from below the assembly in FIG. 1, or in a counterclockwise as seen from above in FIGS. 4 and 5, the marginal undersurface portions of flange 34 about openings 38, which comprise cam follower portions, engage the upper cam surfaces 28 of lugs 22. Continued rotation of diffuser 18 relative to support member 16 cams diffuser 18 toward surface S until flange 34 forms a friction fit or lock with cam surface 28 and the undersurface of annulus 19. It will of course be appreciated that a positive lock can be provided, for example in the form of a cooperating dimple and recess provided on the flange and lug surfaces or on the flange and annular surfaces. With the diffuser thus secured to the support member 16 as seen in FIG. 3, it would be noted that lip 36 is slightly spaced from surface S and extends about the periphery of annulus 18 such that it blocks the latter from view exteriorally of the diffuser assembly.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, there is shown a support member 16a consisting of an annulus 19a similar to the annulus 19 of the previous form but which may preferably be comprised of a sheet metal material. Other materials, such as plastics, may be employed. In this form, an L- shaped lug 22a may be punched or otherwise formed from annulus 19a with the leg portion 26a thereof being bent upwardly to form an inclined cam surface 28a similarly as the cam surface 28 of the previous embodiment. The diffuser employed with the support member of this form is identical to the diffuser of the previous form and is similarly attached to support member 16a. Specifically, the diffuser 18 may be disposed below annulus 19a with the lugs 22a lying in registry with openings 38. Movement of diffuser 18 toward support member 16a thus locates the lower leg 26a of lug 2211 within the diffuser and below flange 34 whereby rotation of the diffuser relative to support member 16a cams the diffuser upwardly into frictional locking engagement therewith.

It is thus seen that the objects of my invention are fully accomplished in that there is provided an improved lighting fixture diffuser assembly having a support member which is secured to a ceiling or wall surface about and independently of a light fixture. Moreover, there is provided a diffuser which is readily and easily removably attached to the support member by slight rotation of the diffuser relative to the support member. Additionally, it is significant that in both forms of the present invention, the diffuser, when secured to the support member, completely hides or blocks the latter as well as the light fixture from view exteriorly of the diffuser assembly.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A diffuser assembly for perimetrically surrounding or enveloping a light fixture mounted adjacent a flat surface comprising a diffuser support member having a central opening therethrough and attachable to the flat surface perimetrically about and independently of the light fixture, a diffuser, and cooperative securement means on the diffuser support member and diffuser for removably securing the diffuser to the support member for mounting the diffuser in a surrounding or enveloping relation about the light fixture, said securing means including a cam surface on one of said diffuser support member and diffuser and a cam follower on the other of said diffuser support member and diffuser, said cam and cam follower cooperating to displace said diffuser toward said support member in response to rotation of said diffuser relative to said support member.

2. A diffuser assembly according to claim 1 wherein said diffuser support member projects outwardly of the flat surface, said diffuser having a portion extending about the perimeter of said diffuser support member whereby said diffuser surrounds said diffuser support member and blocks the latter from view exteriorly of the diffuser assembly.

3. A diffuser assembly according to claim 1 wherein said cooperative securement means includes a plurality of lugs projecting from said support member at predetermined spaced positions thereabout and having upwardly inclined surfaces thereon, said diffuser having a radially inwardly directed flange and a plurality of openings formed at like spaced positions thereabout as said lugs are spaced about said support member to receive said lugs, the portions of said flange adjacent said openings bearing against the inclined surfaces of said lugs when said diffuser is rotated relative to said support member.

4. A diffuser assembly according to claim 1 including means carried by said diffuser support member for centralizing said member about the light fixture.

5. A diffuser assembly according to claim 4 wherein said diffuser support member comprises an annulus, said centralizing means including indicia means on said member.

'6. A diffuser assembly according to claim 5 wherein said diffuser support member includes a plurality of equiangularly spaced, radially inwardly directed, centralizing fingers, said fingers having said indicia means thereon for facilitating removal of equal length segments from each finger whereby said diffuser support annulus may be centralized about lighting fixtures having bases of differing diameters.

7. A diffuser assembly according to claim 1 wherein said diffuser has a marginal portion extending about the outer perimeter of said diffuser support member, whereby said diffuser surrounds said diffuser support member and blocks the latter from view exteriorly of the diffuser assembly.

8'. A diffuser assembly according to claim 7, wherein said diffuser support member comprises an annulus lying substantially in a plane extending substantially parallel to the flat surface and closely adjacent thereto, adhesive material on one face of said annulus, said one face being presentable toward and against the flat surface to secure said annulus to the flat surface.

9. A diffuser assembly according to claim 1 in combination with a lighting fixture mounting a light source, said support member lying between the flat surface and a plane extending in spaced parallel relation to the flat surface and through said light source.

10. A diffuser assembly for perimetrically surrounding or enveloping a light fixture mounted adjacent a flat surface comprising a diffuser support member having a cen-- tral opening therethrough and attachable to the flat surface perimetrically about and independently of the light fixture, a diffuser, and cooperative securement means on the diffuser support member and diffuser for removably securing the diffuser to the support member for mounting the diffuser in a surrounding or enveloping relation about the light fixture, said securing means including a cam surface on one of said diffuser support member and diffuser and a cam follower on the other of said diffuser support member and diffuser, said cam and cam follower cooperating to displace said diffuser toward said support member in response to rotation of said diffuser relative to said support member, said diffuser sup port member comprising essentially a thin strip of material mounting a portion of said cooperative securement means thereon.

11. A diffuser assembly according to claim 10 wherein said diffuser support member is formed of sheet metal, said lugs being punched from said sheet metal to project therefrom.

12. A diffuser assembly according to claim 10 wherein said diffuser has an open end, said flange being spaced inwardly of said open end defining an end lip on said diffuser, said lip extending perimetrically about said support member to substantially surround said support member and block the latter from view exteriorly of the diffuser assembly.

13. A light fixture assembly comprising a light fixture projecting outwardly from a fiat surface, a light source carried by said light fixture, a support member having an opening therethrough and attachable to the fiat surface perimetrically about and independently of said lighting fixture, said support member lying between the surface and a plane extending in spaced parallel relation to the surface and through said light source, a diffuser having an open end portion, cooperative securement means on said support member and the open end portion of said diffuser for removably securing said diffuser in a surrounding or enveloping relation about said light source, said securing means including a wedge shaped member on one of said support member and said diffuser and a cooperating portion on the other of said diffuser support member and diffuser engageable with said Wedge shaped member, said wedge shaped member and said cooperating portion being arranged to displace said diffuser towards said support member and into final securement therewith in response to rotation of said diffuser relative to said support member.

14. A light fixture assembly according to claim 13 wherein said diffuser support member comprises substantially a thin strip of material carrying said wedge shaped member.

15-. A light fixture assembly according to claim 13 wherein said diffuser has a marginal portion extending 7 about the outer perimeter of said diffuser support member, whereby said diffuser surrounds said diffuser support member and blocks the latter from view exteriorly of the diffuser assembly.

16. A diffuser assembly for perimetrically surrounding or enveloping a light fixture mounted adjacent a flat surface comprising; a diffuser support member having a central opening therethrough and attachable to the fiat surface perimetrically about an independently of the light fixture, a diffuser, cooperative securement means on the diffuser to the support member for mounting the diffuser in a surrounding or enveloping relation about the light fixture, said securing means including an element projecting from said support member and having a surface inclined toward the fiat surface, said diffuser having an element engageable with the inclined surface on the element carried by the support member, said diffuser and support member elements cooperating to displace said diffuser toward said support member and into final securement therewith in response to rotation of said diffuser relative to said support member, said diffuser having a marginal portion extending about the outer perimeter References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 149,153 3/1874 Poulson. 2,918,569 12/1959 McCormack 240-128 2,965,750 12/1960 Baldwin 2408.2 3,247,369 4/1966 Nanny 240-78 NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner R. L. MOSES, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 24078

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